EP1225549B1 - Terminal and method for electronic payment - Google Patents

Abstract

The electronic payment terminal (300) may use a telephone number for setting of a commercial transaction using a determination telephone number device (3), a telephone number identification device (303), a telephone number specifying device (304) that is used to perform a commercial transaction. The transaction is performed via a telephone line that connects the terminal with a server (9) in a bank (9). An Independent claim is included for: (a) a method of an electronic payment

Description

The present invention relates, on the one hand, to a terminal electronic payment system and secondly a process electronic payment system involving this terminal particular payment. In particular, the terminal of electronic payment according to the invention offers the possibility of carry out commercial transactions in which a customer performs a payment transaction from a type mobile phone. The method according to the invention relates to a electronic payment method in which a customer performs a payment transaction via a payment device type mobile phone, and in which a seller accepts, at electronic payment terminal according to the invention, the payment transaction made by the customer. The invention essential purpose of adapting and using payment terminals electronics, frequently used by traders, for ensure commercial transactions involving a payment transaction, remote and secure, by means of a mobile phone.

In a general way, the field of the invention is at the same time that of commercial transactions involving electronic payment terminals, and that of remote payment involving mobile phones.

In the field of transaction execution commercial banks, electronic payment terminals are frequently used especially to accept payments by smart cards. Such payment shall first include commercial transaction. This type of transaction includes essentially defining the references of a property to acquire, or a service to be served, and the communication of the price corresponding. The customer paying the price benefits in consideration for the good or service.

The schematic flow of a card payment to chip, by means of a conventional payment terminal, is shown Figure 1. In such a payment mode, the references of the transaction are communicated to a payment terminal 1 which develop a payment message 5. This payment message include the amount of the transaction to be paid, which has been composed by the trader by means of a keyboard. also contains information such as the date and the time of the transaction. The payment message comprises also the designation of the bank references of the trader. These are contained in a memory of data 4, or possibly in an identification module 10 of the trader. These bank references are used to transfer to the bank account of the merchant the amount paid to him.

As a final argument, the payment message includes the designation of a customer's bank account, and the agreement of this customer on the payment of the price. The designation of bank account is carried out by introducing into the terminal of electronic payment 1 of the merchant a smart card 2 of the customer. The manifestation of the customer's agreement is an operation complex. Indeed, it is easy for the client to give his agreement for the payment of the price, it is necessary for the merchant to ensure on the one hand that the smart card 2 introduced in its terminal 1 is an authorized smart card and that on the other hand the holder of this smart card is the legal owner.

The first operation is performed during an operation authentication. In this context, the terminal 1 exchanges with the 2 smart card information to make sure the card to chip is not a falsified smart card. In a second time, the smart card performs a check of what the bearer is the legal bearer. The second operation, which can possibly be placed before the first, includes the composition by the carrier, on a keyboard of the terminal, a code Personal Identification Number (PIN) identification card) that the smart card uses to check that it is solicited normally. In a third time, he is also possible to the smart card to authenticate the device for reading maps contained in the terminal 1: that is to say to verify that the reader is an authorized reader. The authentication of the reader, by the smart card is the same type as the authentication of the smart card by the reader.

By doing this, by dialing his PIN code, the carrier carries out two operations. The first operation, as said above, is to show that he is the good bearer of the smart card. The second operation is of a legal nature: composing the Good PIN is considered a payment agreement. After these operations, a bank certificate calculation step is executed; it allows the merchant to prove that such a card was used at such a time, thus giving him a guarantee of payment.

Once these actions are completed, the message of payment 5 is fully constituted. The payment message explicitly, or implicitly, the information following: the merchant's bank account number, the amount of the transaction, the bank account number of the customer. It may include other indications such as the day of the transaction, the nature of the transaction, as well as a number of operation indicating, for the terminal, the number of operations processed during the day until this last operation. This payment message will be sent to a center payer by a telephone call. Terminal 1 is in connected effect, at a connector 13, by a line telephone 7 (wired, terrestrial or other) with a server 6 the paying center of the creditor. The server 6 of this center payer is able to receive the message 5 sent, and process the financial transaction that corresponds to it. In a way known, the server 6 of the merchant's pay center issues a order to withdraw the customer's account to debit it and to credit the account of the merchant it manages. In the center payer payment is made: the payment message is transformed into payment.

In some cases, given the high amounts of transactions, the payment message must be authorized by a prior authorization from the paying center. In this case, a Real-time connection is made to the Pay Center, in the period during which the customer has dialed his PIN. During this connection, the amount available on the account the customer is verified or can be verified and may otherwise be reserved for the payment of the transaction concerned. During certain applications for authorization, the data memory 4 of the payment terminal 1 is updated to provide him with prohibited smart card numbers. These may be prohibited, in particular because their the true proprietor objected to it after the finding of a flight.

Still in the field of transaction execution electronic payment terminals previously described can be used to accept other types of payment than smart card payments. In particular, payments can be made by means of cards payment cards that do not include an electronic chip, but which comprise only a magnetic track. The terminals for this purpose provide for a non-track card reader shown in Figure 1. In this case, data is read from the magnetic stripe by the electronic payment terminal, the payment process being similar to the one just described. A ticket, containing the essential characteristics of the transaction, is then edited by the terminal 1. This ticket must be signed by the client so that one can legally ascertain that there was payment agreement on the transaction in question. Such proof is not necessary in the case of the use of a smart card, the typed code being considered as a sufficient evidence.

We can also make payments in communicating his card number to the merchant, who enters this number on the keypad 3 of the electronic payment terminal. This method of payment does not allow the operations card authentication and carrier authentication.

In order to reconcile these different types of payments, the electronic payment terminal 1 has an option which allows merchants to determine the method of payment chosen, that is to say either by means of a chip or a track magnetic that will be read by the payment terminal electronic way, either by means of a card code that is typed on 3. In a particular mode of implementation, a mechanical system can detect the introduction of a card in the electronic payment terminal, in which case the payment will necessarily be performed by means of a chip of this map. If no card presence is detected, the payment is necessarily carried out following the composition of a number card on the keyboard 3 of the electronic payment terminal.

FIG. 1 also shows a memory of programs 8, a microprocessor 11, a communication bus bidirectional 12 and a screen 14 of the payment terminal. The microprocessor 11 manages all the data exchanges which take place on the bus 12, this bus being connected to the whole elements previously mentioned in the terminal 1.

In the field of remote payment processes involving mobile phones, there are today including the following process, illustrated in Figure 2. On this figure, the three main actors of a commercial transaction are represented. There is thus a customer 200 equipped with a computer 213, a merchant 201 and a pay center 202. The customer is equipped with a mobile phone 203 incorporating a device for reading smart cards, and more particularly bank cards 204. The merchant 201 is here symbolized by a 205 microcomputer, the type of commercial transaction subject of this secure payment procedure concerning essentially purchases via the Internet.

The principle of such secure payment is as follows: When the customer 200 wishes to buy the merchant 205 a product, it communicates to the merchant a message 207 including his mobile phone number, as well as than possibly practical information, such as the delivery details. This operation constitutes the act purchase. The merchant 205 then transfers to an interface 206, corresponding to the server 6 of Figure 1, the paying center 202 a set of information 208: this information is including a number identifying the merchant, the number of the customer's mobile phone, the amount of the transaction and the date and time of purchase. This communication can be done at means of any telecommunication link: the transferred information is not confidential, because they do not in themselves contain information relating to the payment. A payment transaction 209 is then actually and directly carried out between the center payer 202 and the customer 200.

This is a secure payment using a network of cellular radiotelephony 214, for example the GSM network, and more particularly specific messages of the SMS type (Short Message Service) which ensure the security of the payment. The paying center sends the client an SMS 210 said initialization in which it proposes the conditions of payment. If the customer accepts the transaction proposed by the paying center, a classic payment transaction is made between these two interlocutors: the code of the card to chip 204 is typed on the mobile phone 203 and sent to the pay center 202 in a 211 transmission SMS, which itself returns a third SMS 212 of acceptance. Eventually, the paying center can then confirm at merchant that the payment transaction has been successfully completed, the merchant then being in the business of delivering to the customer the product or the purchased service.

This type of scheme does not, however, involve electronic payment terminals such as those encountered today in traders. Payment terminals are not adapted to receive or to transmit mobile phone numbers in order to use in connection with a payment transaction.

What exists as a remote payment method involving electronic payment terminals is only unsatisfactory: when a customer passes by telephone or fax, or by any other means not leaving any real proof of the order placed, an order from a product or service to a merchant, it communicates to the seller the number of his card. This practice is common when a customer wishes to reserve a hotel room or car. In case of cancellation of the reservation, the merchant is not sure of being actually paid. Indeed, if he returns number of the card on the electronic payment terminal, as in a previously described case, the customer will always be able to refuse the corresponding debit on his account. In Indeed, since the customer is distant, he does not sign a ticket published by the electronic payment terminal.

The present invention makes it possible to overcome the problems which have just been exposed. Indeed, the invention proposes in particular an electronic payment terminal which makes it possible to exploit the communication by a remote customer to the merchant of a number phone, essentially a mobile phone, so to perform a business transaction. The payment terminal electronic device according to the invention is equipped with an option that allows to choose such a method of payment. By choosing this mode of payment, the merchant communicates to a paying center at means of its electronic payment terminal, in particular conditions of the commercial transaction as well as the number of mobile phone of the customer. The paying center is then able to proceed with the payment transaction according to the mechanism encountered in the description of Figure 2. In the process according to the invention, different stages are planned during from which the trader can receive from the center payer a payment confirmation.

The invention therefore relates to a payment terminal used by a merchant to accept payments by card, including a keyboard, a memory of data, a card reading device (chip and / or track), and means for transmitting data relating to a a commercial transaction characterized in that it comprises means to operate a customer's phone number in the framework of a commercial transaction. The payment terminal used is a terminal of the type commonly used by traders, basically to receive payments by credit card, this payment terminal presenting some improvements according to the invention. These terminals are not mobile phones or personal computers to carry out commercial transactions on the Internet network for example.

In one embodiment of the terminal, the means for operate a phone number as part of a commercial transaction include means identifying a phone number, and ways to specify that a phone number is transmitted to achieve a commercial transaction, the latter means of preferably intervene a specific code that is transmitted simultaneously with transaction data commercial.

• des moyens pour recevoir, lors de l'établissement d'une communication entre le terminal de paiement électronique et un serveur spécialisé distant en vue d'une émission de données relatives à une transaction commerciale, un message de confirmation d'une ou plusieurs transactions précédentes.
• des moyens pour établir de façon spécifique une communication entre le terminal et un serveur spécialisé distant dans le but d'obtenir un message de confirmation d'une ou plusieurs transactions précédentes.
• des moyens pour établir automatiquement, au bout d'une durée préalablement déterminée, une communication entre le terminal et un serveur spécialisé distant dans le but d'obtenir un message de confirmation d'une ou plusieurs transactions précédentes.

According to various embodiments of the terminal, the terminal may include:

• means for receiving, when establishing a communication between the electronic payment terminal and a remote specialized server for sending data relating to a commercial transaction, a confirmation message of one or more previous transactions .
• means for specifically establishing a communication between the terminal and a remote dedicated server for the purpose of obtaining a confirmation message of one or more previous transactions.
• means for automatically establishing, at the end of a predetermined duration, a communication between the terminal and a remote specialized server in order to obtain a confirmation message of one or more previous transactions.

• définir des caractéristiques d'une transaction commerciale entre un vendeur, équipé d'un terminal de paiement électronique, et un utilisateur d'un téléphone mobile ;
• définir un mode de paiement par téléphone au sein du terminal de paiement électronique ;
• exploiter, au sein du terminal de paiement électronique, le numéro de téléphone mobile de l'utilisateur pour réaliser de façon sécurisée la transaction commerciale.

Another object of the invention is an electronic payment method characterized in that it comprises the various steps of:

• defining characteristics of a commercial transaction between a seller, equipped with an electronic payment terminal, and a user of a mobile phone;
• define a payment method by telephone within the electronic payment terminal;
• operating, within the electronic payment terminal, the mobile phone number of the user to securely perform the commercial transaction.

• communiquer au terminal de paiement électronique le numéro de téléphone de l'utilisateur ;
• identifier comme tel un numéro de téléphone ;
• spécifier à un serveur spécialisé distant qu'un numéro de téléphone est transmis pour réaliser une transaction commerciale.

The step of choosing a method of payment by telephone may comprise the different phases of:

• communicate to the electronic payment terminal the telephone number of the user;
• identify a telephone number as such
• specify to a remote specialist server that a telephone number is transmitted to carry out a commercial transaction.

• à la figure 1, déjà décrite, montre un terminal de paiement électronique utilisé dans l'état de la technique ;
• à la figure 2, déjà décrite, un exemple de procédé de paiement à distance faisant intervenir une opération de paiement avec un téléphone mobile ;
• à la figure 3, un exemple de terminal de paiement électronique selon l'invention ;
• à la figure 4, un organigramme illustrant une mise en oeuvre possible du procédé selon l'invention.

The invention and its various applications will be better understood on reading the following description and examining the figures that accompany it. These are presented only as an indication and in no way limitative of the invention. The figures show:

• in Figure 1, already described, shows an electronic payment terminal used in the state of the art;
• in Figure 2, already described, an example of a remote payment method involving a payment transaction with a mobile phone;
• in Figure 3, an example of an electronic payment terminal according to the invention;
• in FIG. 4, a flowchart illustrating a possible implementation of the method according to the invention.

Figure 3 shows a payment terminal according to the invention. A large number of elements present in the payment terminal according to the invention were already present in the electronic payment terminals of the state of the art described in Figure 1. This feature illustrates the fact that limited number of changes must be made to the terminals electronic payment currently available to traders to be able to implement the process according to the invention. The traders therefore have no investment considerable effort needed to implement the method according to the invention which will be described in FIG.

The different elements common between the terminal of electronic payment of the state of the art and the terminal of electronic payment according to the invention will be designated by the same references. We thus find in the payment terminal electronic device according to the invention 300 an opening to receive a smart card 2, a keyboard 3, a data memory 4, a program memory 8, an identification module of the trader 10, a microprocessor 11, a bus of bidirectional communication 12 and an external connector 13. The merchant identification module could be replaced by identification data contained in the memory. track card reader, not shown, is also present on electronic payment terminals.

The terminal according to the invention implements means to accept and to be able to follow up on a commercial transaction in which the customer carries out a remote payment by means of his mobile phone equipped with a smart card reader. These different means of the terminal mobile 300 are described throughout Figure 3 basically as applications of the memory of 8. In other embodiments of the terminal electronic payment system according to the invention, these different applications may be replaced by circuits specific electronics providing the same function.

• une application 301, dite de proposition d'un menu, qui permet d'afficher sur l'écran 14 du terminal de paiement électronique 300 les différents types de paiement envisageables à partir du terminal 300. Selon l'invention, on trouve notamment une possibilité de paiement par téléphone ;
• une application 302, dite de sélection, qui permet de choisir dans le menu notamment la possibilité de paiement par téléphone. Les applications 301 et 302 peuvent être remplacées par une application 303, dite d'identification, qui est capable de reconnaítre automatiquement un numéro de téléphone saisi à partir du clavier 3;
• une application 304, dite de transfert de données, qui permet d'envoyer vers le serveur 6 du centre payeur un message 15, dit message de demande de paiement, dans lequel le terminal 300 transfère essentiellement le numéro de téléphone du client, l'identification du commerçant et le montant de la transaction envisagée ;
• une application 305, dite de temporisation ;
• une application 306, dite d'appel du centre payeur, pour demander une confirmation de paiement relatif à un message de demande de paiement préalablement émis ;
• une application 307, dite d'appel automatique ;
• une application 308, dite de création d'un code spécifique.

Thus, in the program memory 8, there are:

• an application 301, referred to as proposing a menu, which makes it possible to display on the screen 14 of the electronic payment terminal 300 the different types of payment that can be envisaged from the terminal 300. According to the invention, there is notably a possibility of payment by phone;
• an application 302, called selection, which allows to choose in the menu including the possibility of payment by phone. The applications 301 and 302 can be replaced by an application 303, called identification, which is capable of automatically recognizing a telephone number entered from the keyboard 3;
• an application 304, called data transfer, which sends to the server 6 of the paying center a message 15, said payment request message, wherein the terminal 300 essentially transfers the telephone number of the customer, the identification the merchant and the amount of the proposed transaction;
• an application 305, called timing;
• an application 306, called the call center payment, to request a confirmation of payment relating to a pre-issued payment request message;
• an application 307, called automatic call;
• an application 308, called creation of a specific code.

The implementation of specific applications to invention, which have just been mentioned, is more precisely described in the flowchart of Figure 4 presenting an example of possible sequence of events in the process according to the invention. The organization chart begins with a decision step 400, which is whether the terminal of electronic payment 300 detected the insertion of a card to chip. If so, a standard treatment, as described in FIG. 1 is made during a step 401. If no card is detected, a decision step 402 intervenes: it consists in the detection by the payment terminal 300 of a number entered on the keyboard. 3. In other examples of this step of detecting a number can possibly involve means of recognition voice or means for direct reception of a transmitted number according to different telecommunication networks.

If no number is detected, no operation is performed. In the case of detection of a number, provision is made for decision step 403, in which the number is identified entered is a phone number. This identification can be made manually by the merchant, who, when posting a menu through the application 301, indicates by means of the selection application 302 if it is a number of phone. In another example, the application 303 identification allows you to automatically recognize if it This is a phone number. This application identification is easy to set up, the numbers of phones belonging to the field of mobile telephony starting mostly with specific numbers. In the case where a phone number is not recognized in step of decision 403, a step 404 is started in which a usual treatment is carried out, corresponding to the case where a card number is typed on the payment terminal electronic. In this usual processing step 404, a ticket is edited according to what has been described previously, and signed by the customer who must be present in that case.

In case a phone number has been detected in the decision step 403, a step 405 occurs, in which the payment terminal generates a request message for payment, this message 15 being accompanied by a header with a specific code produced by the application 308, creation of a specific code, this code allowing the center payer to acknowledge that it is a remote payment made by means of a telephone. The next step is a step 406 of the request for payment message 15. This step uses the data transfer application 304. payment step 407 is then performed between the server 6 of the paying center and the customer. In accordance with what has been described in Figure 2, the server uses the mobile phone number of the customer to call the latter and offer him a secure way to make the payment.

Following the issuing step 406, a decision step 408 intervenes. This is a timeout step. This step, which uses the timer application 308, measures a time elapsed since the last issue of a request message from payment. If a waiting period for a response from the center payer, previously determined and stored in the data memory 4 of the terminal 300, has been reached since last transmission step, a polling step 409 automatic payment center is implemented. This step uses the automatic call application 307, which allows the payment terminal to spontaneously send a message specific to the server 6 of the paying center to ask him the confirmation of one or more payments that should have been carried out following the prior issue of one or more payment request messages 15. At step 409 succeeds a step 410 in which the server 6 of the paying center sends a response to the terminal 300.

In the event that the waiting period has not been reached, a decision step 411 follows the step of decision 408. In this decision-making step 411, one wonders if the merchant wishes to process another transaction. If it's the case, a communication is established between the terminal 300 and the Paying Center server 6, in accordance with what has been performed in steps 405 and 406. In this situation, the payment request message, which triggers a step of payment similar to that of step 407, is accompanied, in a step 412, of a payment confirmation request, this query being relative to the previous request message of payment. Step 410 in which the server 6 of the center payer transmits a response to the terminal 300 then intervenes.

If no new transactions have been made by the merchant, a new decision 413 step follows decision-making stage 411. This is still a stage of time delay, which is similar to that of step 408. In the event that the waiting period of response time the paying center has not been reached yet, a step 414 intervenes. In this step, the trader has the option call the pay center server directly, this call consisting of the establishment of a communication between the terminal and the server using the application 306. This special communication is established not to perform a transaction but only to obtain a confirmation of payment, establishing a request similar to that of the step 412. At the end of step 414, if no call or new transaction were made by the merchant, the process according to the invention resumes its progress from step 408.

Preferably, the remote payments by means of phone are made using a mobile phone equipped smart card reader. Thus, in the process described, when talking about phone number, it's about preference the mobile phone number of a customer, this mobile phone able to communicate on radiotelephone networks cellular phone, for example of the GSM type, and thus able to exchange via these data networks with the servers of the paying center.

Claims (11)

1. An electronic payment terminal (300), utilized by a merchant to accept payments by card, said payment terminal comprising in particular:

   a data memory (4);

   a device for reading cards;

   means (13) for sending data related to a commercial transaction;

   means for getting the telephone number of a customer in the framework of a commercial transaction, said means to get the telephone number comprising a keypad (3) for entering the telephone number of the client;

   characterized in that the terminal comprises

   means (302; 303) for identifying a telephone number, said identification means for a telephone number bringing either an identification application (303) for automatically recognizing a telephone number, or a selection application (302) for choosing a payment by telephone option from a menu and for indicating as well that the number entered is a telephone number into play.
2. The electronic payment terminal (300) according to the previous claim, characterized in that the terminal comprises means for specifying that a telephone number is transmitted to perform a commercial transaction.
3. The electronic payment terminal (300) according to the previous claim characterized in that the means for specifying that a telephone number is transmitted to perform a commercial transaction bring a specific code (308) that is transmitted simultaneously with data related to the commercial transaction into play.
4. The electronic payment terminal (300) according to one of the previous claims characterized in that the terminal comprises means (306; 307) to receive, during establishment of communication between the electronic payment terminal (300) and a specialized remote server (6) in view of a sending data related to a commercial transaction, a message confirming one or more previous transactions.
5. The electronic payment terminal (300) according to one of claims 1 to 3 characterized in that the terminal comprises means (306) for specifically establishing communication between the terminal (300) and a specialized remote server (6) in the object of obtaining a message confirming one or more previous transactions.
6. The electronic payment terminal (300) according to one of claims 1 to 3 characterized in that the terminal comprises means (305; 307) to automatically establish, at the end of a previously determined duration, communication between the terminal (300) and a specialized remote server (6) in the object of obtaining a message conforming one or more previous transactions.
7. An electronic payment method characterized in that the method comprises different steps consisting of:

   defining the characteristics of a commercial transaction between a merchant, equipped with an electronic payment terminal (300) according to one of the previous claims, and a user of a mobile telephone;

   defining (403) a payment method by telephone within the electronic payment terminal;

   getting (406), within the electronic payment terminal, the mobile telephone number of the user to securely perform the commercial transaction by typing into a keypad (3) of the electronic payment terminal (300) the mobile telephone number of the user and by identifying the telephone number by means of either an identification application (303) for automatically recognizing a telephone number, or a selection application (302) for choosing a payment by telephone option from a menu.

   specifying (405) to a specialized remote server (6) that a telephone number is transmitted to perform a commercial transaction.
8. The payment method according to the previous claim characterized in that the specification phase is carried out by means of a specific code that is transmitted simultaneously with data related to the commercial transaction.
9. The payment method according to one of claims 7 or 8 characterized in that the method comprises the additional step consisting of receiving, during establishment of communication between the terminal (300) and the specialized remote server (6) in view of a sending data related to a commercial transaction, a message confirming one or more previous transactions.
10. The payment method according to one of claims 7 or 8 characterized in that the method comprises the additional step consisting of establishing (414) communication between the terminal (300) and a specialized remote server (6) in the object of obtaining a message confirming one or more previous transactions.
11. The payment method according to one of claims 7 or 8 characterized in that the method comprises the additional step consisting of automatically implementing (408; 413), at the end of a previously determined duration, means for establishing communication between the terminal (300) and a specialized remote server (6) in the object of obtaining a message confirming one or more previous transactions.

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